Smart plug recommendations (specific needs outlined within)

In My Humble Opinion
1

I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m in the market for a smart plug. Below are my “must haves” and my “deal breakers.” Thanks in advance for any experienced suggestions or recommendations!

Must have
[ul]
[li]set up/controllable by Android phone and/or PC app[/li][li]timer settings[/li][li]easy to override (I need to be able to turn light on when timer has it off without messing up the timer)[/ul][/li]
Bonus points
[ul]
[li]timer would preferably include the ability to use local sunup/sundown as a reference (in other words, I’d really like to be able to turn a lamp on 30 minutes before sundown and off at, say, 3 hours after sundown)[/li][li]barring the above, timer with a “randomizing” feature is good (if set to turn light on at 7:00 pm, will actually turn light on at a random time between 6:55 and 7:05[/ul][/li]
Deal breakers
[ul]
[li]requires Alexa/Siri/whatever to operate[/li]bad security (can’t change default password, etc.)[/ul]

2

Not sure, if such a device already exists. Here is what I would do:

  1. Buy the internet switch of your choice (Android)
  2. Buy a dusk to dawn controller with delay hours (sold during Christmas for around 10 bucks)
  3. Buy an ordinary switch

Connect each of the above devices to a relay (3 total) that are connected in parallel and are rated for your current draw. You are all set.

3

[quote=“KneadToKnow, post:1, topic:837317”]

I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m in the market for a smart plug. Below are my “must haves” and my “deal breakers.” Thanks in advance for any experienced suggestions or recommendations!

Must have
[ul]
[li]set up/controllable by Android phone and/or PC app[/li][li]timer settings[/li][li]easy to override (I need to be able to turn light on when timer has it off without messing up the timer)[/ul][/li]
Bonus points
[ul]
[li]timer would preferably include the ability to use local sunup/sundown as a reference (in other words, I’d really like to be able to turn a lamp on 30 minutes before sundown and off at, say, 3 hours after sundown)[/li][li]barring the above, timer with a “randomizing” feature is good (if set to turn light on at 7:00 pm, will actually turn light on at a random time between 6:55 and 7:05[/ul][/li]
Deal breakers
[ul]
[li]requires Alexa/Siri/whatever to operate[/li][li]bad security (can’t change default password, etc.)[/ul][/li][/QUOTE]

Woods Wi-On. This brand of network controlled plug is actually sold under many different names. KAB, Eco, WorkChoice. Woods is the one I have first hand experience with.

Android or iOS, apps. No PC.

Timer. Several types, including celestial sunrise to sunset (also +/- N minutes) based on your area code or zip/postal code. Also a couple of different random types.

You can override the switch temporarily by pressing the button on the device or by pressing the power button in the app. If you do nothing else the timer will resume control at the next timing point. It is not easy to enable/disable a timer program long term. You have to delete it and re-create it. Taking a screen shot before deleting is your best option.

You can add them to a 2.4GHz network with any strength WPA2 key you desire. If you want you can have them controllable from outside your network.

It is compatible with Alexa but I’ve never enabled that. It’s not required.

I have several of the 50049 outdoor outlets. I use two to control car block heaters during winter and another to control a room heater. I like how after a power failure they reconnect to their wifi network, reset their own internal clocks, then get back on schedule without any intervention from me.

http://www.woods.com/documents/WiOn_FAQs.pdf

4

The belkin smartplugs do most of that:
https://www.belkin.com/us/p/P-F7C029/

Though if I were you, I’d just bypass the plug altogether and jump to smart bulbs directly. They’re cheaper and very commonplace now.

5

[Moderating]

Since this is asking for recommendations, let’s move it from GQ to IMHO.

6

My Kasa TP-Link smart switch (HS200) does all the above - without looking, I’m going to guess their outlets are going to be similar.

Edit: I just looked in my app. They’ve changed things up, and I don’t see the sunrise/sunset options anymore.

7

I haven’t tinkered too much with the new app - but I am pretty confident that if I needed to pair my front door lights with the sunrise/sunset, I could very easily do it through IFTTT. IFTTT is a 3rd party service that links smart devices with other services. For instance, I can have my Nest thermostat set itself to a specific temperature if the National Weather Service meets specific criteria (partly cloudy, temperature, etc.). I know I’ve seen localized weather/daylight things on there browsing through. A friend has his smart devices set up so that when he orders from Domino’s and they send out a confirmation that his pizza is on his way, his smart lights blink red/blue for 5 seconds, and his Roomba spins around and beeps. IFTTT links his lights, his Roomba and his Domino’s account together. It’s actually pretty easy to do once you get it all together.

8

Thanks all for the recommendations!

Sorry for the forum goof, Chronos! Thanks for getting me straightened out. :slight_smile: